Nomenclature
CAS number: 557-18-6
Magnesium diethyl.
C
4H
10Mg; mol wt 82.43.
C 58.28%, H 12.23%, Mg 29.49%.
Mg(C
2H
5)
2.
Description and references
Prepd by the action of magnesium metal on mercury
diethyl in ether: Schlenk, Jr., Ber. 64, 734, 736 (1931).
Properties
Solvated crystals from ether, MgEt2.Et2O, plates, rods. mp 0°. Liquid at room temp. Spontaneously flammable in
air. Violent explosion on contact with water. Loses its ether of
crystn on heating in vacuo. Not volatile in high vac up
to 250° when decompn sets in. Sol in ether. Dec by alc and ammonia.
Will glow and catch fire even in CO2. Must be handled
in high vac, or under dry nitrogen or hydrogen.